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Apparently Paramount's decision to release the third Transformers movie in July 2011 was news to director Michael Bay, who's currently finishing the second movie in the series, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, which is due this summer. Bay said on his official website that he was under the impression that the third movie would be unleashed in July 2012, not 2011, and that he "needs a break from fighting robots." Either way, you have to wonder: Should Paramount even be committing to a release date before the script is completed, before a director is officially on board, and before the second Transformers movie has opened?

Also, if Bay ultimately opts not to direct the third Transformers movie, who should replace him? I'd love to see a filmmaker with a leaner, less oppressive style take the helm. My dream pick: Alfonso Cuarón (who has already proven that he can handle massive franchises by directing Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban). Cuarón would lend the Transformers film a palpable sense of urgency while not sacrificing the major set pieces (the extended action scenes in Children of Men trump anything seen in Transformers).

But I'm probably speaking heresy to the legions of moviegoers who did enjoy Michael Bay's Transformers, so what say you, PopWatchers? Should Paramount do whatever it can to keep Bay happy, even if that means pushing the third movie back a year? Or is there another director you'd rather have leading the "robots in disguise"?

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A second sequel to 1987 horror film The Lost Boys has been greenlit by Warner Premiere.

The follow-up to last year's Lost Boys: The Tribe DVD will be penned by Evan Charnov and will again feature Corey Feldman and vampire hunter Edgar Frog, Bloody Disgusting reveals.

Moviehole reports that the film will also feature Jamison Newlander, who will reprise his role from the first film as Edgar's brother Alan.

Newlander was credited in the previous sequel, but appeared only in two alternate endings for the film, while Corey Haim provided a mid-credits cameo scene.

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Clint Eastwood has reportedly cast his son in The Human Factor, his upcoming movie about Nelson Mandela and post-apartheid South Africa.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Scott Eastwood will join Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon in the project, which has been adapted from the book by John Carlin.

The movie will revolve around the former South African president's attempt to use the national rugby team to fight racial discrimination.

Eastwood's son will play a member of the team, while Damon will portray their captain Francois Piennar. Morgan has been cast as Mandela.

The 22-year-old has previously worked with his father in Gran Torino and Flags Of Our Fathers.

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Nowhere Boy, a film about Beatle John Lennon's childhood, has started filming.

The Weinstein Company has purchased the movie, which is two weeks into production, Variety reports.

Nowhere Boy takes its title from The Beatles song 'Nowhere Man' on the Rubber Soul album. It is directed by Sam Taylor, whose previous credits include the Buzzcocks-inspired Love You More.

Aaron Johnson, 19, plays the role of young Lennon. He has previously appeared in The Illusionist as the child version of Ed Norton's character Eisenheim. English Patient star Kristin Scott Thomas portrays Lennon's Aunt Mimi, who helped raise him.

"Nowhere Boy tells the never before seen story of John Lennon's childhood," The Weinstein Company said.

"John Lennon is an ordinary 15-year-old boy on the streets of Liverpool... But life is not simple for John - he grew up in a family of secrets and was raised by his Aunt Mimi from the age of five. When he is suddenly reunited with his mother, Julia, they form an unbreakable bond. A bitter war rages between the two sisters for John's love."

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Michael Bay has claimed that Paramount was premature to announce a 2011 release for the third Transformers movie.

The studio is eyeing the Independence Day weekend to launch Transformers 3. However, Bay, the director of the previous two robot action movies, said that he will not be back to helm the sequel if Paramount sticks to its planned release date.

Writing on his Shoot For The Edit website, he explained: "I said I was taking off a year from Transformers.

"Paramount made a mistake in dating Transformers 3 - they asked me on the phone - I said yes to July 4 - but for 2012 - whoops! Not 2011!!! That would mean I would have to start prep in September. No way. My brain needs a break from fighting robots."

Second instalment Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen opens in cinemas on June 26.

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Marley & Me has broken the record for the biggest UK opening of 2009.

The comedy drama, starring Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson as a couple who adopt a hyperactive Labrador, tops the UK box office with £4.4 million in ticket sales in its first five days on release.

Marley & Me's record-breaking 2009 opening surpasses that of Slumdog Millionaire, Watchmen and The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button.

The only other new release, Tom Hardy's Bronson, lands at number ten on its debut weekend.

The UK top ten in full:

1. (-) Marley & Me - £4,414,169
2. (1) Watchmen - £1,400,352
3. (3) Gran Torino - £818,576
4. (2) Slumdog Millionaire - £755,379
5. (4) The Young Victoria - £633,870
6. (5) Bolt - £474,791
7. (6) Confessions Of A Shopaholic - £425,631
8. (7) The Unborn - £389,948
9. (8) Hotel For Dogs - £283,755
10. (-) Bronson - £258,360

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Observe And Report director Jody Hill has called rival security guard comedy Paul Blart: Mall Cop a "piece of s**t".

Speaking to Vulture, the filmmaker said that he had no concerns about Mall Cop's similar premise to his Seth Rogen project.

"I figured it was gonna suck," he said of the Kevin James vehicle, which has been largely panned by critics.

"It's annoying that every time I read an article, they mention this piece-of-s**t movie," Hill continued. "I don't want a battle of the mall cops. If somebody's doing something, I don't want to do that."

Paul Blart: Mall Cop is out in cinemas this Friday, with Observe And Report arriving April 24.

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Adrienne Shelly's final script The Morgan Stories will be made into a feature film.

The movie, to be produced by Shelly's widower Andy Ostroy, follows three sisters over the course of several decades.

Ostroy told The Hollywood Reporter that Morgan Stories was the best thing Shelly had ever written, saying: "It's a little bigger than some of her other work. If Adrienne's previous movies were comedies with a little bit of drama, this is a drama with a little bit of comedy."

Filming has just been completed on another Shelly-scripted project Serious Moonlight, a black comedy directed by her Waitress co-star Cheryl Hines.

Shelly began her career as an actress in Hal Hartley's indie film The Unbelievable Truth before moving behind the camera to write and direct Waitress. She was murdered in 2006 by a construction worker robbing her New York apartment.

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Justin Long has signed up to lead the cast of New Line's romantic comedy Going The Distance.

The movie centres on a couple involved in a long-distance relationship who decide to break off their romance and date people closer to home, says Variety.

Nanette Burstein (American Teen) will direct the movie from a script by first-timer Geoff LaTulippe.

Long recently appeared in He's Just Not That Into You and can next be seen in Sam Raimi horror Drag Me To Hell.

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Director Kevin MacDonald is glad Brad Pitt pulled out of upcoming movie State Of Play - because the Hollywood star is too good-looking to play the role.

Pitt was originally due to star in the big-screen thriller as a put-upon journalist - but the actor quit during pre-production, citing concerns with the script.

Russell Crowe was drafted in as a late replacement to star opposite Ben Affleck's congressman - and Macdonald is adamant the actor's rough features are more suited to the role.

He says, "In a way, I was lucky it didn't work out with Brad. The relationship between the journalist and the politician was meant to be between somebody who feels inferior, who's a bit of a schlump, who kind of can't get a girlfriend, and somebody he's looking up to and admires - his polished politician friend.

"That is not the dynamic of a Brad Pitt. He's not looking up to anyone thinking 'Oh, I wish I could have your girlfriend'."

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Tom Cruise has reportedly said that a new Mission: Impossible film is in the works.

According to Ain't It Cool News, the actor appeared on Japanese show Smap Smap and revealed that he will reprise his role as spy Ethan Hunt for Mission: Impossible 4.

Cruise allegedly added that he is looking to stage an action sequence for the movie in downtown Tokyo.

A big screen remake of the popular '60s TV series, Cruise's first Mission: Impossible outing was in 1996 under the direction of Brian De Palma. Two sequels, helmed by John Woo and J.J. Abrams, followed in 2000 and 2006.

The Mission: Impossible franchise has grossed more than $1 billion for Paramount.

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Clive Owen has denied that the role of James Bond has ever been part of his plans as an actor.

The Duplicity star was asked by thelondonpaper if had ever uttered the catchphrase "Bond, James Bond" in front of a mirror.

Owen replied: "Definitely not. It's never been on my agenda.

"All the talk that was going around was just media speculation and I'm really happy doing what I'm doing."

He added that he has "no idea" about the possibility of a sequel to Sin City but said that he had a "great time" working with director Robert Rodriguez.

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Rapper 50 Cent has agreed to play the role of Hale Caesar in upcoming Sylvester Stallone action film The Expendables.

Oscar-winner Forest Whitaker was originally tapped to play the part, but he was forced to walk away when a month-long shooting delay interfered with his other commitments, Ain't It Cool News reports.

The Expendables is written and directed by Stallone. He also stars in the film along with Mickey Rourke, Jason Statham and Jet Li.

Responding to criticism of the switch, he said: "The anger of the casting of 50 Cent is understandable, but not fair.

"If a man can communicate in one medium, he can communicate in another if his strengths are brought out and he has the support of well-wishers. So, trust me, the change from Forest Whitaker to 50 Cent is a good one."

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Director Jon Favreau wouldn't confirm reports that Mickey Rourke will join the cast of the much-anticipated Iron Man 2, but he assured EW that "everyone will be happy with who've we got." Speaking from the red carpet of the March 17 premiere of I Love You, Man in L.A., Favreau acknowledged being a "very big fan" of Rourke -- and not just because of his work in The Wrestler. "Sin City was when he got on the geek map," Favreau said. "The Comic-Con crowd knew about his rebirth back from Robert Rodriguez' film."

With shooting set to begin within a month, Favreau said he planned to gather the Iron Man 2 cast this week for a little bonding and a whole lot of rehearsing. "I'm getting the old-timers together again and introducing them to new cast members," he added. "We're gonna shake the Sherlock outta junior! I'm a little nervous because the first one set a high bar but we have put our all into this so far."

Favreau acknowledged the script wasn't complete but "we have a rough basic outline [that is] always evolving as we bring in actors and have rehearsals. I like to adjust it for the specific actors but the action sequences are very far along." (Reporting by Carrie Bell)

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Brad Pitt and Natalie Portman have been tapped to star in a romantic comedy, says Variety.

Paramount emerged with the rights to Leanne Shapton's book Important Artifacts And Personal Property From The Collection Of Lenore Doolan And Harold Morris, Including Books, Street Fashion And Jewelry after a heated bidding war.

The book is presented as an auction catalogue with more than 300 entries charting the four-year relationship between photographer Hal Morris and New York Times food columnist Lenore Doolan. Shapton uses items such as clothes and emails to illustrate the pair's romance.

Portman, who will serve as a producer through her Handsomecharlie Films company, took the book to Pitt, who agreed to star and produce with his Plan B firm.

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T.I. has denied rumours that Chris Brown has been removed from the marketing of upcoming movie Takers due to his alleged assault on Rihanna.

Formerly titled Bone Deep, Takers is a heist film staring Brown, T.I., Matt Dillon and Hayden Christensen. T.I. is also an executive producer for the production.

"Nah man, that can't be further from the truth. There's no validity to that statement. I'm an executive producer... and I ain't put forth no sort of order or request, man," T.I. told RapRadar.

He added: "It's very, very premature to jump to such a conclusion given that none of these matters have been resolved. No-one has been tried or convicted or nothing like that. I'm not going to jump to no conclusions."

Takers is scheduled for an early 2010 release.

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90210 actor Tristan Wilds has signed up to star in war drama Red Tails.

The movie is inspired by the 332nd Fighter Group, a team of African American escort pilots operating in World War II who were dubbed the Red Tails.

Wilds has been cast as Ray 'Ray Gun' Knight, a pilot who overcomes prejudices in the US military to fly alongside his friend Marty, says The Hollywood Reporter.

George Lucas, who has been developing the project for more than two decades, will executive produce Red Tails. John Ridley will direct from Anthony Hemingway's script.

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Chris Pine is allegedly the frontrunner to land the lead role in Green Lantern.

Pine, who can next be seen playing a young James T. Kirk in Star Trek, is top of Warner Bros' list to play the pilot-turned-superhero, according to IESB.net.

Sam Worthington (Terminator Salvation) is also reportedly a candidate, while Mad Men's John Hamm and Firefly star Nathan Fillion were considered but have been ruled out because the studio is looking for an actor younger than 30.

Martin Campbell (Casino Royale) will direct Green Lantern in Australia later this year for a December 17, 2010 release.

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Pete Segal has signed up to direct Ben Stiller comedy Meet The Little Fockers, according to Variety.

The Get Smart helmer replaces Jay Roach, who directed the first two instalments in the franchise, Meet The Parents and Meet The Fockers.

The script is currently being penned by Along Came Polly writer John Hamburg. Stiller and De Niro were confirmed to return for the project last month.

Stiller's comedy franchise is one of Universal's most successful, taking a combined total of $820 million at the worldwide box office.

The plot for the third instalment is expected to revolve around the children of Gaylord "Greg" Focker (Stiller) and his wife Pam Byrnes (Teri Polo), and the couple's continuing attempts to please disapproving father-in-law Jack (De Niro). Owen Wilson, who had cameos in the first two films as Pam's ex-lover Kevin Rawley, is expected to have a larger role in the new film.

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Mark Bomback has been hired to adapt Ben Macintyre's book Agent Zigzag for Tom Hanks, reports Variety.

Zigzag is an account of the World War II career of Edward Arnold Chapman. A criminal trained as a spy by the Nazis, Chapman contacted the British government and began operating as a double agent.

Chapman's life was the subject of the 1966 film Triple Cross, which starred Christopher Plummer as the spy.

Bomback's next movie Race To Witch Mountain opens in cinemas on April 10.